EXCLUSIVE: Inside the mind of 'cutting edge' genius behind WWE's biggest stars

In the chaotic world of professional wrestling, very few have seen and done it all quite like the legendary Paul Heyman.

From the age of 13, the New York native began working as a ringside photographer.

In the four decades since, Heyman has held just about every job imaginable - manager, commentator, promoter, owner, head of creative and on a few rare occasions, stepped into the ring in a physical capacity as a competitor.

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The 59-year-old has worked with all of the biggest names in the history of the business, from Stone Cold Steve Austin to Brock Lesnar and everyone else in between.

But perhaps nothing in Heyman's incredible career compares to what he has been able to do over the past four-and-a-half years with Roman Reigns.

At a time of uncertainty in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reigns took time away from WWE and there was no clear timetable for his return.

Reigns - real name Joe Anoaʻi - has battled leukemia twice and due to the impact of the pandemic, took himself off the road as a precaution before WrestleMania 36.

After months at home, Reigns finally returned in August 2020 - but there was a clear change in direction for the multi-time world champion.

Instead of coming back to WWE as a fan-favourite, which had previously spent the majority of his career, Reigns would align himself with Heyman.

Almost immediately, he reclaimed the top prize that he only lost due to COVID.

What followed is one of the most captivating and successful runs in pro wrestling history, with Reigns going on to hold the world title for 1316 days.

By his side - both on weekly television and behind the scenes - was Heyman, who has shared a close relationship with the Anoaʻi family going back to the 1980s.

Together, the pair ushered in a boom period for pro wrestling and to cement that legacy, they will now grace the cover of a special edition of the WWE 2K25 video game.

"I think it's an acknowledgement by 2K Sports and WWE to the indescribably historic contributions that The Bloodline has made ... it's well-deserved and a long time overdue," Heyman told Wide World of Sports in December.

"When you get a chance to make history with The Bloodline and especially Roman Reigns since August 2020, you have to realise you are part of something very special.

"It's a daily challenge to top ourselves and enhance the product. If tomorrow is not multiple times better than today, then we have failed in our task of self-improvement.

"Roman Reigns has disrupted the status quo and changed the way this industry is presented and changed the scope of this industry.

"I think all of television has followed our trajectory … I see the NFL, NHL, NBA, even Australian rules football and rugby on a global stage, you are stealing our shtick."

Reigns also said he was "personally and professionally excited" to see the Anoaʻi family front and centre, claiming they have "been building toward this moment for generations."

As for Heyman, the work he has done on-screen alongside Reigns and the rest of the Samoan dynasty known as "The Bloodline" is just a cherry on top of a remarkable career.

Less than a year ago, Heyman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame - a rare time where a still-active talent has earned the honour in the company's history.

That moment, for an often braggadocious figure such as Heyman, was the perfect opportunity to reflect on everything he had achieved over the past 40 years.

"It was very special to me because I was the first person that Paul Levesque asked to be in a Hall of Fame class that he got to pick, which is why I accepted it," he said.

"I had turned it down four other times and never wanted to go in as an active performer. It was WrestleMania 40, so it was a huge milestone, I was the first person asked by Paul Levesque and he asked to me headline and it was in Philadelphia

"My children had always been nagging me to accept the induction because they are afraid I'm gonna die and they are gonna have to accept it for me posthumously.

"What it allowed me to do was let my children know in a public forum how much I love them and that they are my very breath in life.

"It also allowed me to bring closure to ECW in my heart - I felt that was a magnificent way after all these years to put it on the line, state it on the record and finally move on."

Heyman's work in the 1990s as the creative genius behind ECW - a wrestling company that still receives adoration from fans today - is what really put him on the map.

But never one to rest on his laurels, Heyman is already looking towards the future - whether it be with Reigns on television or helping the next generation backstage.

"It truly made me realise that I'm just getting started," he said.

"After 40 years, I'm just kind of figuring this out now. If I look back on my work six months ago, I would be very disappointed and so I should be.

"If I'm not, I don't have six months worth of growth. If I look back and rest on my laurels - I'm just sitting back on something that I can't change.

"I want to be relevant and the day that I'm not relevant, I don't want to be seen. I want to be progressive and move the industry forward. I like to be on that cutting edge and in that forward-thinking movement. That's what keeps me young and ahead of the pack.

"Being on the screen was never the high for me. The high for me was the interaction with a live audience and that rollercoaster with the blindfolds on, because you never know how an audience is going to react until they react.

"While absence does make the heart grow fonder, being off television for several month at a time just gives me more of an ability to work with more people backstage and to coach, produce or bestow wisdom upon some of the remarkable young talents in WWE.

"That opportunity does not escape my mindset when I count my many blessings at the end of each day."

WWE 2K25 Bloodline Edition will be released Friday, March 7, seven days prior to the Standard Edition, which will be available Friday, March 14.

WWE Royal Rumble streams live on Netflix from 10am AEDT on Sunday, February 2